“Tapas” are a fundamental part of the gastronomic culture of Spain. It is very difficult to establish with exactness the origin of “tapas”, and as for almost everything there are numerous versions to explain its origin. Today we will tell you one of the many stories that exist, which may be the most commonly believed explanation of the true origin of tapas.
It is an anecdote starring King Alfonso XIII on an official visit to Cadiz. At one point in the visit, the king stopped at a restaurant and ordered a glass of Jerez wine. It was a very windy day, so the waiter had an idea to “cover” the glass of wine with a slice of ham to prevent it filling with sand from the beach.
When the king finished the wine, he asked for a new glass of wine requesting it “with a cover like the previous one”. This anecdote is considered by many as the true origin of the word "tapa" to refer to the portion of food served as an accompaniment to a drink.
The truth is that since the 13th century, it is customary to accompany wine with something to eat, by disposition of King Alfonso X “the Wise”, to prevent the wine from making people drunk.
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